The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-12
Editorial 8rtcts.
By REV. I. N. ATWOOD. D. D.
Canton. n. z.

ing. ANY of us, who have been in the
ministry quarter Of a century, could
do our souls good by many more and
more damaging confessions. The au-
thor OF these confessions contrives to
give so fair and encouraging view Of his
sect, and to interpolate so many eulogiee
OF his doctrine, that it is not improbable
he may be charged with choosing this
disguise, the more effectually to recon-
mend his heresy to the ursuspeciing
| public. The reader will surely say IF
this is the worst that penitent Univers-
alist can say of his denomination it must
| be high above the average"
Lady Verney draws dark picture Of
the condition of the Russian peasantry.
Most OF them were aeTfs until twenfy-fhree
years ago. Their condition then was bad
enough; but Lady Yerney argues that il is
now even worse, with prospects of indefi-
mite deterioration. They all have land, but
| they till it either not at all OF in wav to
make it poorer from year to year. They
are running into debt, they are idle, su-
perstitious, drunken and unepeabably
| filthy. This can scarcely be the case Of
all of the more than eighty millions OF
ex-serfs Yet Lady Verrey never inti-
mates that there are any executions TO the
rule OF equalor and wretcheaneae.
"A suspicion enters the mind, how.
ever, that bias affects the Judgment Of
Lady Verney. She points out that what
was done III the case Of the Russian peas.
antry Is strangely like the proposals Of
the late Government" il respect of the
Irish peasantry. She quotes some one to
the effect that the character of the Rus
sian Slav is like that of the pure Irish
Celt, with no habits of industry or te.
naclty of purpose, the chief object of life
being to drink and be merry" In Rus
s1a the upper and middle classes bave
been ruined and the lower classes fixed
fast IN hopeless degradation. Her infer
enee Is that Gladstone's measures for Ire
land would be equally disastrous
In this country We have the means
OF proving that the Irish peasaDtrv are
not necessarily idle nor drunken. More
freedom, better opportunities, the owner
ship Of land, have not demoraIized tbe.
lrlsh IN America. On the contrary. the
lmproVsIaento Of the Irishpeasantry trans.s
terreo to America q stsady and Al
In the older States they are acouirino
the farme formerly held by Americans
almost exclusively, and are showing the
same qualities which distinguished tbe
former occupants - industry. economv
self,denlal and the art of getting on in
The world. We suspect that the bad as
tate OF the Russian peasantry is not due
III any degree to their freedom: more
likely to their former serfdom.
1t remains true that the fathers stone
the prophets and the children oarnisb
their sepulchres. The children of those
men,Who could say nothing severe enouoh
OF Garrison and the AboGtionists. now
chant the praises of the great "fanaticn
and his coadjutors in every strain. Bnt
they much prefer praising the Garri-
sons and Luthers of former eras to im;.
tat1ng them IN our own day. Indeed. let
man exhibit IN current politics or re-
llglon the courage which all men honor
in these heroes Of the past and he is sure
of the sneers and abuse, if not the omen
attack, OF these same eulogists. It is
much easier and safer to the ayerapa
man to praise dead hero than to sup
port living one.
W en- one considers what terrible
thing war is-hOW vast the sum of evils
aud miFeries of every description it i'm
plies; and that its burdens and woes fall
mostly on tlose who had no part in
fomenting it and no voice IN declaring
lt-he can scarcely command lanpuoge
to express his adherence Of those per-
sons who, from motives OF self-interest.
supply incentives to war. "If they have
a war in Europe" GA the lips of an
American business man. NAV not be a
bloodthirsty sentiment; but if he keeps
saying it because the wish Is father 10 the
thought, and if he coolly proceeds to Law
plans to profit by the war, he is a moral
! accessory. Editors that make much ont
Of all the little clouds that appear in the
European sky, and that prove With great
skill the necessity of a s7ar between M
tons that should live III peace. NAV
imagine themselves engaged in legitj-
mate journalism. But to just men and
the just God all such idle, OF curious. or
interested contributions to great calam-
ity involve completely in evil.
The readers Of the Forum have now
had an opportunity OF hearing what DR..
Leonard Wolsey Bacon can say against
prohibition, and what Gen. Neal Dow
can say for it. DR.. Bacon is a brilliant
writer, keen, witty, entertaining. He
never spOils a story for relations sake.
nor pungent statement for truths sake.
II the Prohibitionists can be put down
by volleys of well-aimed epithets Dr..
Bacon is sure to be the death OF them.
Gen. Dow writes like the straightfor-
ward, dead in earnest man he is. In the
matter OF courtesy he has the advantage
OF his adversary, as much as in thorough
I frr...rr-I1.T.sa . A.. ---1.s--H